A dozen people have now been charged after nearly three tonnes of cocaine – enough for three million street deals – was discovered hidden under floorboards in Sydney’s west.
Brisbane man Richard Huynh, 41, and a 23-year-old Sydney man have joined the ranks of many charged in relation to investigations into the mammoth drug discovery.
Mr Huynh was charged on Thursday, August 20 by Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police after officers seized $80,000 in cash and electronic devices at a Kangaroo Point home, allegedly linking him to the drug syndicate.
As part of Operation Minjiang, police allege other syndicate members moved 2.78 tonnes of cocaine from a suspected safe house in Petrie, north Brisbane, about an hour south to Loganholme.
Mr Huynh is then alleged to have facilitated an interstate shipment of the cocaine through NSW and Victoria using a legitimate trucking business before the drugs were eventually transported to Londonderry in Sydney’s west.
The business is not believed to have any knowledge or involvement in the offending.
The 41-year-old was arrested at Brisbane Airport and charged with one count each of possessing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, contravening a requirement to give access to electronic devices, and dealing with property reasonable suspected of being proceeds of crime.
For possessing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, Mr Huynh faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
His matters were mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday and adjourned to a later date.
Police also searched the Loganholme property, where the drugs were allegedly stored, and seized a collection of residual packaging believed to be used in the trafficking operation.
The 23-year-old Erksine Park man’s home was also raided, with police allegedly locating 28g of cocaine, a semiautomatic 9mm pistol, a loaded single barrel break action sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, gun suppressor and about $10,000 in cash.
The man was charged with one count each of dealing with property reasonable suspected of being proceeds of crime, possessing a shortened firearm without authority, and supplying of prohibited drugs and two counts each of possessing an unauthorised firearm, and possessing ammunition for a firearm.
He appeared on the matters in Penrith Local Court on Thursday.
Twelve people have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into Australia’s biggest cocaine bust that took almost three tonnes of cocaine and 142kg of methamphetamine off the streets.
In June, AFP officers raided the Londonderry property and uncovered three shipping containers containing the 2.7 tonne stockpile of cocaine.
The powder blocks, hidden under the floor boards, were estimated to be worth about $816m.
An AFP spokesperson said the seizure could have stopped about three million street level deals from going ahead.
Police have not ruled out any further arrests or charges in the matter.
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